Monday, 18 July 2011

After a week of excitement in South Asia, the players return to the quiet surroundings of London Colney as pre-season training resumes in the UK. I don't think this week will be as enjoyable for the players with double training sessions planned and not a chopstick in sight.

As we head towards the match in Cologne on Saturday and subsequent training camp in Germany prior to the Emirates Cup weekend, all eyes will be focused on our transfer activity. These next two weeks are hopefully when we'll see Arsene Wenger dust off his cheque book and sign the players we need to make us a competitive force next season.

I can also envisage one of our two big summer transfer sagas being resolved. It seems that Arsene Wenger's patience with Barcelona over the future of Cesc Fabregas is wearing thin and he'll put a deadline on the deal in order to allow him time to make the necessary arrangements to replace the Spaniard if he does leave. And our captain will only leave if the European champions meet our valuation of the player. It's been good to see that Ivan Gazidis has dug his heals in over this one and won't be bullied into completing a deal which is certainly not in the best interests of the club when Fabregas is under a long term contract with us.

Fabregas, who has resumed training but is yet to be involved in a full training session with his team mates, is expected to be involved against Cologne according to Wenger who will assess the player today.

"For us it is important that the team settles psychologically as quickly as possible because we have a tough start.

"We play most of the big clubs away in the first half of the season. We have to stop at some stage. I hope we can close that [the Fabregas situation] very quickly in our favour."

The Daily Mail say Cesc will plead with Wenger to let him go, whilst The Sun say there is a two week deadline on the deal to happen or the Spaniard will remain in north London for the season.

The other transfer saga of the summer regarding Samir Nasri will also have to be resolved. You can't imagine us going into the season with a player who won't commit to the club with a season to run on his deal. The big question you have to ask is whether Arsenal can afford to take the £20m+ hit on him if we don't sell him.

There are a few transfer stories doing the rounds. Gunnerblog - who has been keeping close tabs on the Joel Campbell transfer - says Arsenal have had a bid accepted for the player. Sky Sports report Everton have made an enquiry as to the availability of Nicklas Bendtner and would like to take him to Merseyside on a season long loan. And Arsene Wenger has confirmed to the Daily Star that Denilson has been signed by Sao Paulo on loan for a year.

For some extra reading.viewing, head over to The Backwards Gooner where they've pinpointed five reasons why Samir Nasri isn't suited to the number ten role.